Thursday, April 27, 2017

The Question: "To Build Or Not To Build 'The Wall'?"

Candidate Trump promised to build a wall along our southern border to help ensure the safety of America.

No one challenged him much---maybe other than Hillary and Hollywood who mocked the idea---because he could not be elected, and it didn't matter what he said he would do.

Now 98 days into his presidency, every thing he says matters. And everyone has a strong opinion except, perhaps, the Republicans who apparently are saying "maybe later, there's no money for the wall."

Senator Ted Cruz told the country yesterday, "Eureka," I've found the money. At least a good part of it.

Progressive Left preachers and politicians have been decrying "The Wall."

Yesterday (April 26), Rev. Jim Wallis, the leader of the Religious left, sent out a personal note to his million or more followers reminding them to participate in the "People's Climate March" this Saturday.

I thought there was yet another "march" for something day after tomorrow, but after a careful reading, I discovered he was talking about last Saturday's march (April 22) which he calls the "People's Climate March." I had not heard it called that either.

The message, however, was not confused. He said, "This week, we are resisting the president's outrageous attempts to build a racist border wall," calling on thousands to "pray with their feet," promising his organization--the Sojourners--would be there.

By marching, he said, "you are holding fast to your moral principles and convictions."

When Donald Trump stood in the lobby of Trump Tower on June 16, 2015, and announced he was running for President of the United States, he told all who would listen, "Mark my words."

"If" he became president, he. ..

"Would do various things quickly... would repeal and replace the big lie Obamacare... build a great, great wall on our southern border...and have Mexico pay for it."

Later in his campaign, he said, "I am committed to...Defunding Planned Parenthood as long as they continue to perform abortions." Three days after his Inaugural Address, he used executive authority to reinstate the Mexico City policy which denies federal funding to organizations that provide or promote abortions abroad.

One week later, Vice President Pence told the March for Life that Trump would keep his pro-life promises with the help of the newly elected Republican majority, pro-life Congress.

Pence said, "Life is winning again."

Mike Pence is one of us. And he knows about winning...and losing in the pro-life battle.

Back in 2011, after the Republicans won back control of the House in the 2010 election, then-Rep. Pence introduced an amendment that would, as Pence put it, "deny any and all funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates for the rest of the fiscal year."

Rep. Pence said on the record, he believed "it's morally wrong to take taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans and use it to fund organizations that provide and promote abortions..."

The House passed his amendment. However, then Speaker of the House Republican John Boehner cut a spending deal with the Democrats in the Senate and the White House that did "not" include Pence's amendment to defund Planned Parenthood.

When the House put together their very weak reconciliation bill to "repeal and replace" Obamacare a few weeks ago, it contained only a mild gesture toward what the president has actually promised---cutting Medicaid money to PP for one year.

The House conservatives opposed the bill on that basis, so as you recall, it never came up for a vote, revealing that Speaker Paul Ryan either still does not support the president or he is not a strong leader.

Now Congress faces an April 28 (tomorrow) deadline to pass a new government funding bill.

As of last night, there is talk that to avoid shutting down the government, there will be nothing in the funding bill about defunding Planned Parenthood.

And there is talk the spending bill will not include language that funds the "great, great wall on our southern border."

There are reasons members of Congress have such low approval ratings year after year after year.

Is this pending fiasco an answer to the prayers of the religious Left? Or another expression of incompetence?

Congress still has 24 hours---maybe they can work it all out.

Sen. Ted Cruz isn't counting on them "working it all out," and we probably shouldn't either.

Cruz has introduced the "Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets To Provide Order (EL CHAPO) Act" this week.

Cruz says the $14 billion seized from El Chapo and other Mexican cartel members will go a long way toward building the wall and will help keep Americans safe and it will hinder the illegal flow of drugs, weapons, and individuals across our southern border.

Joaquin 'El Chapo" Guzman is facing trial in the US.

Will Congress be clever enough to kill Ted's Bill?

Be In Touch...with your elected officials

And.

Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Persistent. Be Prayerful. Be Pro-Active.

The "Wall" definitely needs to be funded. Racism has absolutely nothing to do with building the "Wall". The United States of America has the right and duty to protect it's borders. I certainly understand why so many people want to escape the lawless, corrupt and impoverished Nations they come from. A chance at a better life in the U.S.A. is far more desirable than living, at best, a miserable existence with little or no hope where they are. Even so, we are a Republic, a Nation of laws. Those who choose to flood into the U.S. illegally are destined to remain second class for the rest of their lives in the U.S. because of their illegal status. Additionally, as a Nation, the United States can only absorb a limited amount of people without specific job or career skills. The flood of un-skilled people in the labor force drags down wages for everyone. For instance; the Drywall Industry in Washington State has pretty much been taken over by Latino's who will work for far less money. God bless them because it is very hard work. My first seven years out of High School I worked on piece work wages in the drywall industry. I worked hard, and made great money in the late 1970's, and early 1980's. The Latino's who have taken over the industry also work very hard at it because it is hard labor. However, because of their illegal status they are more than willing to work for way less. Most of them are making considerably less money than I did 35 to 40 years ago doing the same thing. Please note that it is not just the Drywall industry that this is happening in. People throughout the Construction industry in all trades will tell you the same thing. That my friends, is one of the symptoms of the problem. The Drug trade, and gangs like MS13 are far worse. Then there is the fact that ISIS has bragged about infiltrating thousands of "Jihadists" across the same Southern Border and has set up "Terrorist Cells" within our cities. BUILD THE WALL !!! Rick Bauer

Do we have the cart before the horse? How about eliminating ALL the goodies the illegals get once they get here? They get free everything, much more than any of our own citizens would ever get. Also, stop all the catch and release programs. Leave this plan in place for awhile, and then see what the situation is. Then if necessary we can build the wall.